Villa Gualdo in Montegalda

The Fogazzaro-Roi Trail starts near Villa Gualdo, home to Montegalda's town council

Montegalda Castle

The Grimani-Sorlini Castle, symbol of the town, stands atop one of the seven hills of Montegalda

Countryside south of Vicenza

The Fogazzaro Trail lures us away from the frenetic pace of everyday life, it encourages us to rediscover our own natural rhythms in complete freedom, to get back in touch with our roots and commune with nature

Villa Fogazzaro Roi Colbachini

At the start of the CFR, in Montegalda, lies the villa which belonged to the famous writer's grandfather; the grounds display wonderful examples of English and Italian landscaped gardens

Villa Valmarana ai Nani

Villa Valmarana ai Nani

The villa goes by the name “Ai Nani” (the dwarves) to differentiate it from other villas belonging to the same family. It owes this name to the stone statues of dwarves which once stood in the garden and are now lined up along the boundary wall

Villa da Porto Pedrotti

In Vivaro di Dueville the CFR goes past Villa Da Porto, a Palladian villa dating back to 1552. There are other historical villas in the area

Villa Ghellini

In the municipality of Villaverla you can stop to admire the most important work of Vicentine architect Antonio Pizzocaro

The CFR in Marano Vicentino

After the springs, the CFR comes to Marano Vicentino, the first local council to open a detour route to welcome visitors to its town. We are at the halfway stage

The CFR in Santorso

The sanctuary at the foot of Monte Summano dominates Santorso and here the CFR leaves the Vicenza plain to start its climb into the mountains

Villa Rossi in Santorso

It is worth visiting the romantic park in Villa Rossi, built by the industrialist and politician Alessandro Rossi di Schio in the late nineteenth century. The entrance to the park lies along the CFR

The CFR in Piovene Rocchette

This a charming part of the CFR through the winding, narrow streets in Piovene situated at the foot of Monte Summano, like Santorso

Along Piovene Rocchette-Arsiero bike path

One of the most beautiful sections of the CFR runs along the old Rocchette-Arsiero railway line which is now an unpaved bike path, taming you through lush green scenery with breathtaking views of the lower Astico Valley and the surrounding mountains. The route continues as far as Velo d'Astico

Along the River Astico

From Velo d'Astico to Barcarola the CFR runs along the River Astico, and crosses the wonderful natural pools near “Ponte della Pria” which are very popular during the hot summer months

The grand finale

The last stage of the CFR stretches from Barcarola and climbs up to Tonezza at 1,000 metres, following the old road which is now closed to traffic. For the fitter amongst you, a steep path will cut out the numerous hairpin bends in the road

Chance meetings

As you quietly walk the last section of the CFR you may well spy a deer grazing in the woods near Tonezza...or even in the gardens

Tonezza's charm

Antonio Fogazzaro was bewitched by the natural beauty of Tonezza and this pleasant little spot still has the power to charm. There could not be a better final destination for the CFR. You can continue through the town centre along the Sentiero Fogazzariano and come back through the wonderful Valle dei ciliegi

Come and enjoy the CFR!

Thanks to the generous support of its volunteers, the Associazione Cammini Veneti has created the CFR and now it's ready and waiting! We hope it will be enjoyed by many and look forward to meeting you. Happy walking!

The Stages of the Cammino Fogazzaro Roi

Explore the entire 80km trail which takes you from the countryside near Montegalda, south of Vicenza, along river banks and footpaths, through the city of Vicenza and then on past the stunning freshwater springs to reach the Valle dell'Astico, finally climbing 1000 metres to Tonezza del Cimone

THE CFR ROUTE

The CFR in short

What is the CFR and where is it situated?

The Cammino Fogazzaro Roi is an 80km trail stretching from Montegalda to Tonezza in the province of Vicenza. It ascends around 1,000 metres, but most of the climb (around 80%) is in the section from Velo d'Astico to Tonezza del Cimone. The walk is mainly off-road, along paths, river embankments, dirt tracks, and minor roads. The route is waymarked with brown metal signs, red and white stickers, or red and white paint.

Why the CFR?

The trail was devised by the Associazione Cammini Veneti to take in some of the most stunning countryside around Vicenza and especially those places described by the writer Antonio Fogazzaro, and with connections to his great-grandson, Giuseppe Roi, a man of immense culture and patron of the arts. Cammini Veneti's main aim is to create well-signed, long distance walks in the countryside and hills in our area, offering stunning scenery and cultural insights. While there are already many walking and hiking trails in the mountain areas, the hills and countryside remain relatively undiscovered and despite the unfortunate encroachment of built-up areas in recent years, there is still a wealth of beauty to be explored.

When can I walk the trail?

You can walk the trail any time of year but the best times are probably in spring and autumn.

How can I do the trail?

You can walk or cycle the trail; no special equipment is required (you will need walking boots, and maybe poles and a backpack) and there are plenty of services along the way (bars, restaurants, B&Bs, hotels and farmstays but there are no campsites).

FRIEND'S WEBSITES

Meta Italia 360: culture, nature, wellness

Guided by the passion for travel, we go to the discovery of a little known Italy, with joy, sobriety and a desire to learn.

Convivio Italia - Culture and enterprise

Convivio Italia is a free association of people who care about the development and growth of the territory through the enhancement of the country's artistic and cultural heritage.

Cooperativa Ecotopia

Ecotopia operates in the field of Environmental Education and Animation; consists of environmental guides, qualified personnel with specific knowledge and skills related to individual activities.

Michele Savio

Tour Leader, Mid-Mountain Guide and Naturalistic-Environmental GuideOffers accompanying services on the Cammino Fogazzaro Roi and annexed variants on foot and / or by bicycle, rental and transport of electric and normal bicycles as well as a logistic service for luggage transport.

My books are drawn in part from other books, in part from the truth in things, and in part from the depths of my own soul; because my soul, too, is a sky filled with shadows and stars which rise and set and rise again without rest, and therein lies an abyss so deep that not even the inner eye can penetrate it.

Antonio Fogazzaro

From the great slopes of our mountains to our poetic sea shores, nature has lavished on us so many scenes of incomparable beauty that we may imagine any kind of scene set there, from the most grim to the most hilarious! […] only a very few observe our natural surroundings.

Antonio Fogazzaro

Only a thin, silver rim of the moon reddish globe was still shining when they once more ascended the dark terrace. In the restless air, the swaying of the roses, indistinctly heard, sounded like the voices of desire and pain. The sprays seen but indistinctly, waving from side to side, seemed like the arms of staggering blind men.

Antonio Fogazzarofrom his novel Piccolo mondo moderno (The Man of the World)

The spur that bears Vena di Fonte Alta stretches forward from the base of Picco Astore, its twin horns facing the great stone quarry of Villascura. Towering above the abyss that encircles them, the pine forests and beech groves of Vena wave against a background of sky, spotted here and there with pale emerald, where the fields press them asunder and overflow, and dotted with red and white where small houses are huddled together in groups.

Antonio Fogazzarofrom his novel Piccolo mondo moderno (The Man of the World)

The delicately arched brow of Torraro divided the space that yawned between Priaforà and Caviogio, whose black and might outlines swept downwards majestically, like the flowing robes of giant monarchs. His thirsting soul found comfort in the brooding peace of the scene.

Antonio Fogazzarofrom his novel Leila

They reached in silence an open space, whence one path ran to the right, across the fields, towards Villascura and Cortis's house; another sloped away to the left towards the torrent of Rovese, opposite to the naked, overhanging boulders of Monte Barco; and a third ran straight to the three tall firs, which overlooked the valley, from the edge of a steep declivity. He went straight on towards the fir-trees.

Antonio Fogazzarofrom his novel Daniele Cortis

The CFR Route

Map of the Cammino Fogazzaro-Roi, over 80km from Montegalda to Tonezza del Cimone, passing through the city of Vicenza